Ristorante El Camineto
Tucked into the hamlet of Rumerlo just a short drive from the main corso, El Camineto is the kind of place Cortina locals actually eat on a Friday night — low timber ceilings, a crackling fireplace and a menu rooted firmly in the Ampezzano mountain tradition. It is one of the best places in the valley to eat casunziei, the region's signature half-moon pasta.
What to Order
Start with casunziei all'ampezzana — deep-red beetroot-filled pasta half-moons dressed in nothing but browned butter, poppy seeds and a shower of aged Asiago. The simplicity is deceptive; the flavour is profound and unlike anything you will find in southern Italian cooking.
Follow with strangolapreti, bread-and-spinach dumplings that are denser and more rustic than gnocchi, or opt for a slow-braised venison stew served with polenta when it appears as a seasonal special in autumn and winter.
The Atmosphere
The dining room is small and genuinely cosy — exposed larch beams, hunting trophies and hand-embroidered tablecloths give it the feel of a private mountain lodge rather than a restaurant.
Service is unhurried and familial; the owners are happy to explain the provenance of each dish and will often bring out a complimentary grappa at the end of the meal, poured from an unlabelled bottle that suggests it was made by someone's uncle.
When to Visit
Reservations are essential in high season (Christmas–New Year, February ski weeks and August) — the room seats fewer than 40 covers and fills up fast.
The restaurant closes in the shoulder seasons of May and November, so plan accordingly if you are visiting outside the main tourist windows.
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